‘Mourinho will be over the moon’ – Campbell claims Spurs star has proven critics wrong

Arsenal legend, Kevin Campbell has lavished praise on Serge Aurier and claimed that Jose Mourinho will be delighted with the Ivorian’s current form.

Aurier certainly does not immediately strike you as a Mourinho kind of player, with the right-back’s past defending often proving to be rather erratic and inconsistent.

While the Tottenham boss made the most of the former PSG man’s offensive capabilities last season by using him as a key attacking outlet, there were still question marks over his composure and concentration levels at the back.

When Matt Doherty arrived at the club during the summer, it appeared as if Aurier would be nothing more than a bit-player this season.

However, the 27-year-old has raised his game in response to increased competition and seems to have moved ahead of the Republic of Ireland international in Mourinho’s pecking order.

In Tottenham’s last three matches against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, Aurier has shown that he can put in solid and defensively disciplined performances.

Campbell credited the Spurs right-back for proving critics wrong. The former Arsenal striker told Football Insider: “Spurs are playing like a Jose Mourinho team, at the back especially.

“They do not give much away, everyone knows their job and they support the flanks when they can.

“Aurier is not doing anything overly-impressive but he is doing his job and that suits Jose Mourinho down to the ground.

“Mourinho will be over the moon with him because he is not giving anything away and he is defending properly.

“Many people questioned whether he could but he is proven he is a top-class player.”

Spurs Web Opinion

This idea that Aurier was a bad defender was always a bit of a myth. Aurier has proven even before this season that he can be terrific as a one vs one defender, managing to shut out the likes of Eden Hazard and Wilfried Zaha. The issue with him was always his tendency to lose concentration and make stupid decisions. Based on his displays this season, he appears to have cut out those lapses in judgement from his game.

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